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Numerical calculation of thermal convection in porous media in two dimensions with applications to nuclear repository design

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5388237· OSTI ID:5388237

Thermal convection induced by nuclear waste heating could be an important mechanism in the transport of radioactive nuclides to the biosphere. A computer code HP2D was developed to calculate this effect. The code calculates transient and steady state heat and fluid flow in porous media. It allows for anisotropy of hydraulic conductivities, temperature dependent fluid density and viscosity. A heat source and a variety of temperature and flow boundary conditions can be easily employed. The code solves two coupled governing equations. The time dependent heat transport is solved by an alternating direction implicit technique; and the steady state flow of water is solved by a Gauss-Seidel Poisson solver. A sample calculation of thermal convection about a repository is given.

Research Organization:
California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
5388237
Report Number(s):
UCID-18700
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English